Steel wool carton



Nov. l2,` 1957 J. A. CAMERON 2,812,853

STEEL WOOL CARTON Filed July 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M@ Q. @man Nov. 12, 1957 J, A. CAMERON STEEL wooL- vcmToN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1955 INVENTOR.

United States Patent G STEEL wooL CARTON John A. Cameron, Evanston, Ill., assignor to The S. 0. S. Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application July 19, 1955, Serial No. 523,045

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-56) This invention vrelates to merchandise packages and more particularly to a package composed of two or more cartons; the cartons being capable of quick and easy separation from each other, yet joined to each other iirmly enough that the package may be conveniently stacked and handled as a single unit.

It is one of the primary aims of the present invention to provide a package which is normally sold as a unit, yet which is made up of cartons that may be separated without cutting or tearing of the package. More specically, it is an object of the invention to provide a sectional package comprising two or more independent and separable cartons wherein the individual cartons are secured to each other by frictional means only, the frictional means being of unique mechanical design and construction so that it releases in response to movement in one direction only. This permits the cartons to be separated easily and instantly, yet largely prevents the possibility of accidental separation caused by inadvertent handling of the packages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separable sectional package comprising two or more cartons wherein the assembled package is arranged to expose both a display label and an instruction label in a prominent and easily visible position, yet wherein the individual cartons of the package will also display both types of labels in appropriate and conspicuous locations.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in the present invention by a unique twin carton package wherein two separate and independent cartons are joined to each other by paired interlocking tabs. These tabs are capable of holding the separate packages so tightly nested against each other that they may be handled as a unit in the normal course of trade, yet the tabs may be simultaneously withdrawn when desired. By this expedient voluntary separation of the individual cartons is conveniently and quickly accomplished. Nevertheless, there is little tendency toward inadvertent separation, since the interlock between the packages is designed to resist any pulling or twisting motion and likewise to resist any relative sliding motion except in the one direction prescribed.

In the preferred form of the invention both of the cartons from which the package is made up are of similar size and shape and are of somewhat conventional rectangular proportions. As shown, they comprise tubular cartons open at each end, as customarily employed for retail marketing of bulk products such as steel wool.

A present commercial embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings of this specification. In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a typical sectional package as here contemplated;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but showing the manner in which the individual cartons of `the package may be separated from each other;

2,812,853 Patented Nov. l2, 1957 ice Figure 4 is a plan view of a tagboard blank from which one of the cartons is formed and,

Figure 5 is a plan view of a similar matching tagboard blank of the type from which the other carton of the pair illustrated is formed.

The complete merchandise package illustrated in Figure l of the drawings is an assembly of a pair of matching cartons; one of the cartons being formed from a blank as illustrated in Figure 4 and the matching carton being formed from the blank illustrated in Figure 5.

As illustrated, these are similar open ended tagboard tubes or cartons 10 and 20. These cartons are formed from the blanks illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, respectively.

The blank 10 is scored along the lines 11 to define a front panel 12 and a rear panel 13, interconnected by a somewhat narrower top panel 14 and bottom panel 15. The blank is folded on the score lines 11, and held in tubular form by the tab 16 which is glued along the longitudinal edge of the bottom panel 15 (Figure 1). The front panel 12 is provided with a display label generally indicated at 17 while the back panel 13 has secondary or instruction label 18. Ordinarily, the label 17 will be devoted primarily to the trademark of the manufacturer, while the label 18 may give directions for use of the product or other pertinent information.

The blank 20 is also scored at 21 to define a front panel 22 and a back panel 23, separated by top panel 24 and bottomy panel 25. The panel 23 is also provided with a tab 26 adapted to be secured to the edge of the bottom panel 25. The front panel 22 has a display label 27, and the back panel 23 has an instruction label 28.

As perhaps best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the front panel 12 of the carton 10 is provided with an interlocking tab 19 at the left hand end of the package, while a similar interlocking tab 29 is provided at the right hand edge of the panel 23 on the blank 20.

The two separate cartons formed from these blanks are assembled into a unitary package by placing them together with the front panel 12 overlying the rear panel 23 of the carton 20 in face to face contact, and with the tabs 19 and 29 both folded over the edge of the adjacent panel and projecting inwardly into the open end of the adjacent carton. Thus, as best seen in Figure 2, the locking tab 19 projects into the carton 20 from the left end thereof while the tab 29 aflxed to the right end of the carton 20 projects into the right end of carton 10. In each instance, the tabs lie flat against the inner surface of the carton; that is, the tab 19 is held at against the inner face of panel 23 while the tab 29 is held flat against the inner surface of the panel 12.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the tabs are held in position by the steel wool pads 30 enclosed within the two cartons. It follows that, in this particular embodiment of the invention, no additional means for retaining the tabs in position is required.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the individual cartons 10 and 20 are held together so snugly that they may be picked up, carried about or handled in the normal course of trade without likelihood of accidental separation. The tabs 19 and 29 serve as an effective unidirectional interlock holding the cartons to each other so securely that efforts to separate them by pulling directly apart ortwisting motions are ineffective unless suiicient force is applied to actually tear the tagboard from which the cartons are made. Intentional separation may be achieved instantly and easily, however, by merely sliding the packages endwise relative to each other in a manner to simultaneously withdraw both of the tabs 19 and 29 (Figure 3). Preferably, the top or bottom panels of the package may be marked with arrows 31 and`instructi0ns 32 indicating the manner in which the separation can be accomplished.

It is thus seen that by the present invention the individual cartons are held together with a sufficient degree of security so that any tendency toward looseness or relative shifting is avoided, yet the cartons are capable of instantaneous intentional separation without the need of tearing or otherwise mutilating any portion of the pack.

age. Moreover, the manufacturers trademark may be prominently displayed on the separate cartons as well as on the assembled package, and appropriate information relative to the product will be available to all purchasers irrespective whether they select a complete package or only one component carton thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent As an article of manufacture, a separable sectional item of merchandise comprising, in combination, a plurality of thin walled open ended tubes of rectangular cross section each having parallel front and back panels of similar size and shape, united to each other by top and bottom panels permanently joined thereto and extending therebetween; with a display label on the front panel and an instruction label on the back panel thereof; said tubes each having merchandise therein comprising a resilient mass held within said tubes wholly by friction with the internal wall surfaces thereof; a plurality of said tubes being assembled in a unitary package with the back panel of each tube overlying the front panel of the next adjacent tube in face to face relation whereby one display label and one instruction label are concealed between each adjacent pair of said tubes while the opposite display label of one tube and the opposite instruction label of another are exposed; said tubes being held in assembled relationship with each other by a unidirectional sliding interlock adapted to hold the front and back panels of adjacent tubes in surface-tosurface contact; said interlock consisting of a fastening tab at one marginal edge of one tube of the pair and a similar fastening tab on the opposite marginal edge of the other tube of the pair; each of said tabs being folded around the corresponding marginal edge of the nearest panel of the next adjacent tube and extending reversely into said adjoining tube and held therein wholly by friction between the internal wall surfaces of the tube and the mass of merchandise therein, so that the paired tubes are frictionally secured to each other and are firmly restrained against relative movement in at least two directions, but are separable by sliding movement of one tube relative to the other in a direction opposite to the direction of said tabs to simultaneously withdraw both of the aforementioned fastening tabs from engagement with the merchandise in both tubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,630,497 Morris May 31, 1927 1,657,942 Spaldo Ian. 31, 1928 2,131,391 Schraifenberg Sept. 27, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 452,251 Great Britain Aug. 19, 1936 

